Today in Music (1895): “The Sidewalks of New York” hit #1 - for the first time

The Sidewalks of New York Dan Quinn

Writer(s): James W. Blake (lyrics), Charles B. Lawlor (music) (see lyrics here) First Charted: February 9, 1895 Peak: 19 PM (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, -- streaming

Awards (Dan Quinn): Click on award for more details. Awards (J.W. Myers): Awards (George J. Gaskin):

About the Song: Charles Lawler (1852-1925) was a Dublin-born vaudeville performer who came to New York. On a walk home one night, he thought he should write a song of his own. He came up with a melody and the next day hummed the melody for James Blake (1862-1935), a salesman who worked at John Golden’s hat store. WK Blake told him to get the music down on paper and he’d write lyrics. Lawler returned twenty minutes later with the musical notes written out and Blake finished his already halfway-completed lyrics in another half hour. WK The song was introduced by Lottie Gilson at the Old London Theatre in the Bowery. SS “The audience was so taken with it that they joine her in singing a repetition of the chorus.” SS She performed it at vaudeville houses for years. SS The song was pivotal in the success of the music publishers Howley & Haviland as a staple of Tin Pan Alley, SS but the two authors of the song both died penniless, having sold the copyright of the song for $5000. WK The song became “a virtual anthem for New York City.” SS In 1928, New York’s Al Smith used it in his presidential campaign. SS Dan Quinn was the first to chart with the song on February 9, 1895. After nine weeks at #1, it was knocked out by Edward M. Favor’s “My Best Girl’s a New Yorker” for five weeks. It was then replaced by J.W. Myers’ version of “The Sidewalks of New York” for four weeks. In between Quinn and Myers’ versions, George J. Gaskin also charted with the song, reaching #2. Nat Shilkret gave the song a fourth chart run in 1928, also peaking in the runner-up position. PM The song has also been performed by artists as versatile as Blondie, Nat “King” Cole, Duke Ellington, the Grateful Dead, and Paul Whiteman. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Dan Quinn DMDB encyclopedia entry for J.W. Myers DMDB encyclopedia entry for George J. Gaskin DMDB encyclopedia entry for Nat Shilkret SS Steve Sullivan (2013). Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings (Volumes I & II). Scarecrow Press: Lanham, Maryland. PM Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research, Inc: Menomonee Falls, WI. Page 578. WK Wikipedia First posted 6/26/2024.

50 years ago: Gene Austin charted with “My Melancholy Baby”

My Melancholy Baby Gene Austin with Nat Shilkret’s Orchestra

Writer(s): Ernie Burnett, George Norton (see lyrics here) First Charted: January 7, 1928 Peak: 3 US, 15 GA (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.02 video, -- streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Ernie Burnett’s only hit also brought him back to life, in a manner of speaking. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1884, he went abroad to Italy and Austria as a teen to study music and performed as a vaudeville pianist upon his return in 1901. He led his own orchestra, founded his own publishing company, and served in World War I. PS “Melancholy,” as the song was originally published in 1912, JA ended up in Burnett’s lap when George Norton registered the song with a lyric from his wife, Maybelle Watson but it was sold when the pair divorced. Burnett was brought in to tweak the lyrics. LW The song was then introduced in vaudeville by Winsom June Le Fey, JA Jack O’Leary, or William Frawley, SB depending on which account you believe. More details point to Frawley, as it is suggested that he performed the song publicly at the Mozart Café in Denver, Colorado, in 1912. SB The song first charted in 1915 when vaudeville actor and singer Walter Van Brunt took it to #9. When Burnett was wounded while serving in France, he lost his nametag and his memory. As far as anyone knew, he had been killed in action. However, when he heard someone performing “My Melancholy Baby” to entertain the wounded, Burnett declared, “That’s my song!” LW The song continued to claim new audiences over the years as it passed through different publishers. Gene Austin took it to #3 in 1928. Other charted versions included Al Bowlly (#20, 1935), Teddy Wilson with Ella Fitzgerald on vocals (#6, 1936), Bing Crosby (#14, 1939), tenor sax player Sam Donohue (#5, 1947), and Tommy Edwards (#26, 1959). JA Crosby sang it for 1941’s The Birth of the Blues. The song was reprised by Judy Garland in 1954’s A Star Is Born, Gogi Grant in 1957’s The Helen Morgan Story, and Barbra Streisand in 1964’s Funny Girl. PS Other artists to cover it include Miles Davis, the Dorsey Brothers, Benny Goodman, Dean Martin, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and Frank Sinatra. LW Resources: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Gene Austin JA David A. Jasen (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). Routledge: Taylor & Francis, Inc. Page 142. LW Alan Lewens (2001). Popular Song – Soundtrack of the Century. Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 27. PS ParlorSongs.com SB Songbook1.wordpress.com Last updated 11/24/2022.